Whereas agricultural plastics, including net wrap and baler twine, typically end up in landfills or are burnt or buried on farms, resulting in decreased landfill capacity and environmental pollution; And whereas the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy in the Canada-Wide Action Plan for Extended Producer Responsibility has identified ICI packaging including agriculture plastics be a material to be considered in the future; And whereas the Ministry will engage with local government as staff work towards strengthening current programs, while prioritizing options for potential program expansion: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy expedite the inclusion of agricultural plastics as a new product category under the Recycling Regulation.
Ministry of Environment and Parks The ministry continues to assess opportunities to advance BCs circular economy and increase the recovery of packaging and paper products. In the Fall of 2020, the ministry published a Recycling Regulation Policy Intentions Paper to engage with key partners and interested parties on proposed priorities to regulate more products for recycling. The feedback captured in the summary of feedback report reflected support from a range of interested parties, Indigenous partners, and recycling organizations expressing a desire to expand EPR in specific product categories. Unfortunately, agricultural plastics were not identified as a priority item and as such are not currently being considered for regulation under BCs Recycling Regulation.